Charlotte Ronald McDonald House Aims To Open In 2010

Organizers hope to begin construction on Charlotte's Ronald McDonald House by the end of the year.

It can't come soon enough for families who'll be able to stay there while their children are in the hospital.

"It's our home away from home," said Tate Ogburn, whose family uses one in Ohio when they take 4-year-old Virginia to see a hand specialist.

"It's right next to the Cleveland Clinic, which is the hospital, so people who are staying at the house (and) have children in the hospital are very, very close to their kids," Ogburn said.

The Ronald McDonald House planned for Morehead Street in Charlotte will serve the same purpose. Mona Gibson-Johnson is coordinating the project.

"The Hemby Children's Hospital and the Levine Children's Hospital have both, over the last couple of years, gone through some major expansions and are offering new services," she said.

That has made Charlotte more of a medical destination for families.

The Ronald McDonald House project was announced three years ago with an ambitious goal of opening in 2008. The target now is 2010.

"We have been working diligently trying to bring together groups of folks -- donors, the community. We have probably 700 volunteers. We have 1,500 Facebook fans," Gibson-Johnson said.

The effort got a big boost from major contributions in July, including one from tycoon Donald Trump.

The plan is to demolish two houses on the site by December and finally begin construction. Then Charlotte can provide what's already available in more than 200 other cities.

The Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte will have 28 bedrooms and suites. It will charge families little or nothing to stay there.